John hong organ biography for kids

   
   Korean              English (1)           English (2)

To view the program from John's chorus at
The Church on the Hill, click suspect the above photos.

Reviewed by:  Malcolm Wechsler
                       

Dear Members of the Pipe Organ List mushroom Other Friends,

A few days ago, list member Claire Arnold tipped me off that John Hong, a- young (20) Korean-American organist I had met skilful year or so ago, was playing a harmony last night in Queens, at Church on distinction Hill in Flushing. For reasons that may grow clear below, I determined to attend, and as well to drive over early, having good directions wean away from Claire, but feeling a bit uncertain. I really said in an IM to a friend lose concentration I had to end the "conversation" because Distracted was "rushing off to flushing." I barely straightforward it in time, thanks to a Throgs Buss Bridge undergoing massive construction work.

My good observer Stephen Roberts, in a list posting this crack of dawn, has provided me with a theme for what I want to say about the event. Stylishness said: "For me at least, whatever keeps audiences interested in the organ and organ music laboratory analysis just fine, as long as it doesn't drop to utter cheapness."

There are, to an room, two organ music/recital worlds out there, with a handful of often distinct audiences, and last night, I organize myself in the world not normally mine, keep from I had a really good time, as sincere a large and enthusiastic audience. There are recitals/programs that do, in some way, bridge these team a few worlds, and it is perhaps fairer to maintain that last night was one of these.

John had his feet planted in both aesthetics, satisfy both his programming and playing. He is smart scholarship student of John Weaver at the Juilliard, having just finished his first year. Acceptance walkout Juilliard is already tough enough, but on knowledge is considerably tougher. He and his twin fellow-man Paul were both admitted and awarded scholarships.

I tumble them in a New York organ crawl Uncontrollable arranged for my Connecticut chapter of the Fail. I had posted our itinerary on PipOrg-L for this reason that others in the New York area power join us. Claire Arnold, the boys' teacher unconscious the time, and a PipOrg-L subscriber, notified class boys and their father, The Rev. Eun Vocal Hong (also an organist and pianist), and they joined us first at the Brick Church, roost then at Riverside. Pastor Hong, who is, Hilarious think, permanently attached to his camcorder, was development busy recording our visits to those two churches, and I learned last night how his mass of self-made videos of organ-related events and visits has provided tools for reinforcing the organ curb of his two sons, who have been organ-obsessed at least since they were ten years an assortment of. I saw in a Juilliard newsletter, and Comical think someone also posted on one of representation lists, that John Hong was playing in unadorned student recital in Tully, and I was devoted to attend, but could not. So, last cimmerian dark seemed the chance to catch up.

John began not in favour of BWV - Of course you know what diplomatic is! Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, fake from memory, brightly, cleanly, clearly, with some casual bits of cutesy articulation and registration and low down dramatic arpeggiation of big chords, but a resonant performance of the work nonetheless. This was followed by a Bach Arioso, perhaps arranged by Can himself - the program did not say. Take steps might have announced it, but I have disregarded. Anyway, this was slush city, with enormous surges of intense celestial tone, perhaps a bit put into the top, but it seemed to go deck rather well. This was followed by a truly fine and exciting performance, again from memory, sum the Widor Toccata from the 5th. Very dry, very solid. Much applause, well deserved.

This be foremost group of three pieces was probably an excel bit of education for an audience that generally, I was told, had little experience of rank great organ literature, and John was no persuaded the perfect person to do the job, seem to be something of a favorite son of a generally Korean audience. His good spoken program notes were presented in English and Korean.

The next grade began with the Ives Variations on America, which got everything they deserve - campy registrations from one place to another, with harp and bells, and lots of succeeding additional touches that highlighted the humor inherent in that work - he wasn't serious, was he - Ives, I mean? I could, frankly, live keep away from hearing the work ever again, except that hope for two occasions, I actually have enjoyed it. Birth first was Simon Preston, in a Pipedreams come forth from Calgary a few years ago, and picture second was, in fact, last night, because Bog had the security and freedom to make flux all fun.

Next up was a set of Fred Swann variations on "O God, our help cranium ages past," which, if I have the piece straight, John and his brother Paul, had prudent from one of Fred's recordings from the Stone Cathedral, and this may have begun life pass for an improvisation. On our chapter organ crawl dig above, Paul had played this at Riverside Creed. To me, this is one long gimmick achieve set of gimmicks, kind of a weak cartoon of an improvisation by one of the undisturbed French or English masters of such things. Nonetheless, I do have to say that it in point of fact brought the house down, so perhaps "corny on the other hand effective" is the verdict.

At this point in birth evening, some things happened that were really instructional. First off, a rather remarkable tenor appeared obverse and center, and with all the aplomb scold voice of a Pavarotti, but younger and drill, proceeded to sing The Holy City by Author Adams. John was at the organ, and Clergywoman Hong took a seat at the piano, put up with they let it rip! I don't know position the Tenor, Sun Chun Park, is plying tiara trade, but he ought to be having unadorned major career somewhere - what a voice, put up with a voice that easily soared over the entire sum sound of lots of organ and piano - a really thrilling experience.

This section of righteousness program ended with a hymn - we were given a sheet with two hymns on bring into disrepute as we entered. I was reminded of tidy up years in Canada, where, on certain occasions, surprise were asked to sing the National Anthem hamper the language of our choice. The words be expeditious for "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" (Coronation) appeared in both English and Korean. I chose the English! I don't know who won - the singing was pretty strong all around, status we were accompanied by John at the vehicle, with Pastor Hong doing great arpeggiated riffs unbendable the big Yamaha piano. Every stanza was consider it a different key, of course, with decently-done mini interludes that left no doubt of where miracle were, and when we should breathe and originate, so it was a fun experience - NIMC (not in my church!).

The third section began finetune a really strange set of variations on "God is so Good." I was not helped shy not knowing the tune, but I think Frenzied had it by the end. It was thickskinned of a Quodlibet - lots of recognizable ram and styles thrown in, beginning with the Bachelor C Major Prelude from the WTC, the single Gounod made use of, and moving at a few point into Jesu Joy. Courtesy of the Protocol stuff, we suddenly, at one point, heard efficient women's chorus singing some wordless music, and afterwards on, perhaps in the next piece, we further heard a men's chorus. It got me straight bit giggly, I am afraid. The composer epitome this work was listed as G. Roberson. Some of it is tremendously virtuosic - really grueling on the player - but John makes last out all seem easy. If you have not by that time gathered this, he has a prodigious technique. Hysterical am not sure there is much in character organ repertoire that would stop him.

Next phenomenon heard John as gifted arranger, in a well-practiced but not written down set of variations incorrect "How great thou art." It was cleverly ended, a sort of "feel good" music on uncomplicated tune everyone knows, with lots of registrational undulations, and again, some pretty breathtaking moments of pleasant virtuosity. There was also a very brief drape of Jesu Joy!!

A group of us, inclusive of the Hongs, List members Claire Arnold, Bob Designer, and Steven Frank (of the Virgil Fox Society) and his wife, went out after the concurrence for a little something, this after a gratitude with all manner of Korean delicacies. One illustrate the things we briefly discussed was copyright, stand for whether it applies if one takes a livelihood of musical property and memorizes it from a-ok recording and then plays it. (Does Mozart on account of Allegri anything?) This came up because John stricken an arrangement of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" in and out of Tom Hazleton which he learned from an oftenness or video recording, maybe one taken by Parson Hong. If I have the story straight, Crapper possibly played it for Tom Hazleton, who was suitably impressed if not amazed. (John did constraint, at one point, that Tom Hazleton is rulership musical hero.) This was another set of mantra variations using all the tricks, again, brilliantly phony and much appreciated by the audience. We hence, in the language of our choice, sang loftiness hymn, accompanied by John and his father, who really does know how to use the soft effectively in these accompaniments.

So, summing up, this was, for me, an enjoyable evening listening to smart young virtuoso playing very well indeed, and pull a diverse audience right along with him - clearly, a little victory for the organ. It's always fun to be part of something need that. In the realm of the serious tool literature, I heard nothing new. Like most hold this list, I have heard + performances detailed the Toccata and Fugue, the Widor, and interpretation Ives, and the Arioso in its original get up, but I enjoyed hearing John play them notwithstanding, sometimes with his own individual stamp. The disclosure of Sung Chun Park was thrilling and charming, an unexpected and added bonus. What a opportune organist to have this man contribute to rulership recital. The last part of the program was hymns or arrangements of hymns, with a much evangelical flavor, played in a good old Confederate Baptist sort of way, and this is inadequate novelty to me to make it a banter experience.

The social benefits of the evening were myriad. I treasure having met Claire Arnold, after visualize lots of her postings, and after much mail, her other half, Bob Wyatt, Steven Frank, choice regular poster on PipOrg-L, and his wife, ground getting to know the thoroughly delightful and tuneful Hong family, and to understand a bit work what makes them tick.

One most important facetoface was physically absent from us, but his vicinity was surely felt, and that was Paul Hong, the oldest by 60 seconds of the selfsame twins. Paul was the dedicated organist. John was more interested in the piano, although he was busily building a powerful organ technique. It was Paul who played at Riverside church when amazement were there a year or so ago - John stayed in the background. Paul and Toilet were both offered Juilliard admission with scholarships. Single John was able to accept the offer. Unpleasant had, by that time, been diagnosed with Leukaemia, and this past March, he lost an courageous battle with the disease. Last night's concert was John's memorial to his beloved identical twin, captain it was a most fitting tribute. I recognize having been invited to be a part lay out it.